Border Law (1931) â Buck Jones
When Shag Smith kills Jim's brother Bob, Jim Houston (Buck Jones) and Thunder quit the rangers so they can cross the border and join Smith's gang. Jim's plan is to get the gang to cross back over the border where the rangers will be waiting.


This movie is part of the collection: Feature Films

Audio/Visual: sound
Keywords: Buck Jones; Western; Feature Films; B Western;

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Moose Malloy - - December 19, 2010
Subject: Beautiful Looking
The excellent print quality here, allows L. William O'Connell's photography to really shine.

I've seen quite a few B-Westerns, and this is the most beautiful of them all.

The cinematographer clearly had a genius for a beautiful looking image. He made powerful use of reflected light for internal photography; usually the Hollywood look means most light on the front of the face; here, O'Connell sometimes places it at the sides, with the face in half-light. Other times, he has the brightest spot in the scene be a low light on the rear wall. It's all very atmospheric; gently done; artistic without ever seeming self-indulgent.

He was also quite fond of using near-floor-level lighting in the shot; which adds a pleasant organic quality.

This 1931 film is also one of the best early adverts for panchromatic film. I love the tough-look of mono- and orthochromatic film; but the soft, smooth tones of "pan" rarely looked so sweet so early.

I'm disappointed that I had never heard of him until now. Looking up his filmography was a revelation.

I'd love this version to be put on a great looking DVD or Blu-Ray -- I would just leave it running on my TV in a continuous loop.

Good film - always loved Buck Jones. But just once, he was out-done. Not by the baddie, but by his cinematographer.

An enormous thank-you to the uploader for allowing us to see this. Hearty congratulations too, to whoever restored this. Oh, for a pristine DVD release!

Reviewer: bobsluckycat - - May 4, 2010
Subject: Buck Jones Gets It Done
A very early sound western with Buck Jones at his best. Superior restored picture and "wide-range" sound and great production values makes this one a winner in many ways. Buck Jones is at the top of his game. Lupita Tovar a very in demand (at the time)actress in a coy role. Frank Rice as the taciturn side-kick "Thunder". A word about Mr. Rice, a very in demand side-kick and featured player with every big name cowboy and others from silents until his untimely death in 1936. He's underappreciated now, but his work is standing the test of time. Jim Mason, also a much in demand actor in westerns and serials in the 30's is quite good, even low-key. Lots of other familiar faces among the henchmen as well. You can't miss with this one. Enjoy.